Northern Beaches mayor pushes for Sydney council to have its own Indigenous Voice to Parliament

A ritzy beachside council in Sydney is pushing to create its own Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the form of a committee to advise on issues affecting First Nations locals.

Mayor Sue Heins from Sydney's Northern Beaches Council intends for the proposed  advisory group to be a means for the more than 1,400 residents who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to have input beyond that available to all ratepayers.

The council already liaises with Aboriginal residents about specific matters and projects but Cr Heins wants them to engage in a 'greater and more meaningful' way.

The group would advise the council on 'culturally appropriate' matters such as public art works, place names and Aboriginal heritage and conservation issues.

'It’s about capturing what’s important to our local Aboriginal community,' Cr Heins's mayoral minute stated.

But some of her Northern Beaches councillor colleagues have questioned the proposal, which comes after the Australian people soundly defeated the Voice proposal at a national referendum.

 Liberal councillor David Walton told Daily Mail Australia that the council already has a good working relationship with local Aboriginal groups.

'We already interact with the Aboriginal Land Council. We work closely and collaboratively and they are already an important keyholder with council. And we also work closely with the Aboriginal Heritage Group,' he said.

'Are they duplicating systems and processes that already exist?' 

Cr Walton said councillors were only notified of the new proposal over the last few days and there are 'a lot of question marks'.

'Will the advisory council be paid? How will they be selected and what will their role be? What is the driver to form this committee?' he added. 

He also questioned the cost of a new body, given the council is proposing a rate increase of 5.1 per cent - above the already high rate of inflation. 

The northern beaches is a relatively wealthy area with median house price listed as $2.5m while median rents sit at $1,300 per week, according to data from Real Estate Investar.

But Cr Walton said the area faces the same cost of living pressures as the rest of Australia.

'There's an unknown cost associated. Are we likely to see a significant cost associated with this?' Cr Walton said.

'At a time when we are already facing a rate increase at the same meeting and with the current cost of living pressures, it doesn't seem like the right timing.'

Cr Heins said questions about the group regarding its make-up and costs will be detailed in a report compiled by the council's chief executive.

The proposed advisory committee will be a hot topic of debate at Tuesday night's council meeting, where Ms Heins will ask the council to support her motion that the chief executive provides a report on forming the group. 

The mayor reassured that the advisory group would only be contacted about certain topics and issues and council would always have the final say. 

Cr Heins wants the council to form a Reconciliation Action Plan.

'While Council does have strategy documents that speak to our commitment to engaging, working with and listening to our local Aboriginal community, we need action,' her mayoral minute stated.

'We need a more holistic approach, which directs action and is driven by an Aboriginal Community Advisory Group working with staff to ensure we take actions and not just simply have conversations.

'We do not have a formal Reconciliation Action Plan, which I believe is integral in demonstrating meaningful respect for our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander residents.'

Mr Walton is worried the proposal will re-open a racial divide created by the unpopular Voice referendum.

'My concern is the community still haven't gotten over the hurt that occurred with the Voice referendum,' he said.

'Something we need to consider: is the community ready?

'Maybe it's an unjustified concern of mine but if residents are not ready for this [proposed group] it could hurt people.'

Daily Mail Australia contacted Cr Heins for comment.